Computing-scale-illuminating device.



G. B'. LONGSTRETH.

GOMEUTING SCALE ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1908. v

` Patented Jan 11, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

c. B. LONGSTRETH..

COMPUTING SCALE ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED-AUG. 22, '1908.

Patented Jan. 1'1, 1910.y

-2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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onannns B-ENJitrAN 'Lonesfrnn'riir,- or Barron, claro, assis en vor oren-THIRD 'ro HENRY CB. PRDEN AND ONE-THIRDT() anni; a, miras, fw: or marron, onto.

.mailformG-scALnLILLumrnnTrna Derma To AaZlwhmfn itmay concern.' Be itik'nown that I, CHAnLEs BENJIMAN.' INGsTRETH', `a citizen of the United States, residing at Da ton, county of Montgomery, and'State of hio, vhave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Computing# `Scale-Illuininatinlgs Devices, of which. the following 4is a specification, reference being had 'to the accompanying' drawings forming a part of the saine. w This invention ,relatesl to, improveinents, in

, illuminating devices for computing o i weighscales, and among the lvarious objects of the invention are to provide an illuminat- -alfing lamp or apparatus which will be automatically controlled by the scale for the of the illumination thereof; also-to `1"pirovide`.such interior illumination of the Ming? or chartportion of the scale' as will f st the operator or the customer in' ob- (fgssrvingthe operation of the scale; also so to :t locate the lamp as to prevent as much as posthe heat from lbeing radiatedto the w ,j' operativ'parts of the scale. @5p "With these and incidental objects inview,

the invention consists of certain novel fea-pA :tures of construction and combinations of parts, all as set forth in the appended claims and a Vpreferred, form of embodiment of which is hereinafter specifically `described 'with reference to the accompanying drawin s. l i i f he invention is shown as appliedfin one vparticular form to the computing scale now :well known onthe market'iinder the name of the .Toledo which scale is described as 'to its general construction and operation in patent to De Vilbfiss No. 839,736, dated De- '-cember. 2.5 1906, to which patent reference 40 may be hadior such details of general operation 'asnre not fully described herein. It will lie understood, however, that the in-v vention is not `limited to this particular form of scale, but is applicable as well to various other forms of scales, to any one of ,which these improvements may be applied withoutdeparting 'from the spirit of ,the .present invention.

In computing scales in particular, it' 'has' .heretofore .been very diilicult to secure a proper reutlingen the computing chart, ow-

- ing to the necessarily small figures contained onthe'chart, and 4theffact that ordinarily these scales are located 'in such 4,places in' their establishment as not to aiordadequate light from the outside to -as'sist in thereading operation- ,This disadvantagefhas been 4rors arrange .various pivotal"A pointsrfor the purposefof throwing their reflecting-'light upon the reading openings vwhere the scale compu# tations are exposed. i

The present invention'is vdesigned to remedy these defects. of any such mirrors and gives an i1luininaand the device `is also automatically ar ranged so' as tol light up the chart at each operation of the scale. i

improvements above mentioned.` Fig. Sl'represents a side elevation of thesaine with cerf` tain parte omittedfor the sake ofclearness;`

'plan and elevations ofthe4 electric mechanism. Figs.v 5, 6 and 7 represent de tails of' the end-piece construction for hold-` ing the electric lamp. Fig 8 represents a chart or' the scala/including the auxiliary chart for price per unit weight'. i

yReferring to the said drawings, the scale is provided with oscillates the scale lever v12 about the pivot point 13. IThe lever 12 Vis connected by an arm 14 to a rack 15 of themachine and thereby with a pinion 16 mounted upon the axis of a revoluble cylinder, whichy cylinder is 17 bearing the usual indicia indicating. the computing value of the article wcighedin a well known manner. This -revoluble com-4 putiiig chart or cylinder 17 is suitably mounted -in the casing 18 which has formed indicating at front 'and back. Therear endI of the lever 12 engages'the stirrup-lilre end of adepending arm 21 connected with a wei ht 22 so -thatlwhen any article to be We' ghed is placedv upon the scale panll, the rearward. end of the lever l2-descends and tends to 'pullthe weight- 22 u ward.` Th construction of: these mechanicaiparts is well It dispenses with theuse l Specication oBetters-,fEatent Patentjaji. 11, 1910.` i' Application med August 2a, iena serial No. 449,803. 'r

lattempted to be remedieidwb' 4the use of mird to 'be freey shifted about tion.. which shines through' a .transparent '4 chart marked with the various computations,

Alin the drawings Figure 1 represents a'rear V elevation of a computing scale, including the Figs. 3 and 4 represent respectively detailed switch detailed view 'of a portion ofthe computing the usual scale pan .11, which provided with a transparent'computing chart in it twofreading openings 19 andjQO, and 'for known in the form of scale referred to, and

hc operation of the same is set forth morein detail in the .De Vilbiss patent cited..

The illuminating scribed. y

Mounted at any suitable place on the standard of the scale isa plug 30, to which lead electric wires 31, 32 providing a source of electrical energy, from battery or electric light line or other source. From this plug connecting wires Plead upward through the framewor of the scale, as shown in dot-te lines in Fig. l to include in their circuit vtwo electric lamps-33 and 34: situated within the end pieces of the ,scale barrel, as 'later re'- ferrcjd to. lelectric circuit an electric switch automatically'operated by the scale. The switch comprises terminals which consistof a conductor arm 35 and a` conductor plate 36, more clearly are connected 'in the circuit by the vvires3a and 36 respectively. The terminal 36 1s l connected vto a movabletcontact stripy 37 'hinged-M38, which strip'hormally tends to Tassume contact-making position against the other contact own weight. or assisted `by the spri'ng39.l

" The other Contact of the switch comprises 'a setscrew'O threaded into the terminal 35 so that thehinged strip 37 will tend to drop f down upon the contact point e() andcomplete This switchi'device is the' contact-strip 37,

-' the electrie'eircuit through the electric lamps. screwed on to the' rear ward 'end of 'the scale, as shown in' Figs. 1l and 2, aiidis suitably insulated frein the metal AWork of the scale.

There projects fromthe rear end-of `the 'scale'l'ever 12 a pin 41 which extends under and when the scale is in normal' 'zero position the -pin41 holds Lthe -strip 37 out o contact-making position awayfrom its opposite contact.

" .Whenthe scale is operated by anyarticle' v"beingplaced upon' the scale pan for the pur 'ose'fof'weighmg and the rear. end of the' evfer 12 thereby' descends, the pin 41 in descending Ydrops awaylfrom the contact strip 37 and ermitsit to assume its normal contact-ma ling position, resting against its ,opposite contact 40 to close .the electric circuit and illuminate .the electric lamps. This construction ofy the switch, it `will be observed, -issueh as to ermit the continu-ed movement of the scale ever independently of the con# tact device, so that there is no further interference with the action of the scale in con- --nection `with the making of this circuit.

When the scale returns to its normal position after its operation of weighing, the pin 41 of. course returns to lthe normal upper position and lifts' the contact strip '37 t'o break the electric circuit and extinguishthe lamps. itis thus obvious that the contact strip 37 is allowed to device will' now be de-f and thereby-vary ras to' vary the point at which the lighting' :l

There is also included Ain this The'se terminals' 4of tle switchby reason of its strike the contact set-- screw 40 and thereby cause lighting of the lamps at a certain point of displacement of the lever 12downward from' normal osition. The contact 40 is made in the ibrm of a setscrew in order to permit Athe upper end of the screwr to be 'raised 'and lowered,

the relation between the contact strip 37 and the contact point 40 so circuit is made or broken.L This adjustment by changingth'eposition of. the' contact 40' thereby causes. the scale lever12` to ,control the movable contact strip 37 over agi-eateror less extent of the movemex'itof the 'lever f '12. The result of this construction isthatM-go the scale may be adjusted to cause the light- *t ing of the lam to take place at any desiredV oint of disp acement of the scale lever ,ownwarch so that asmall loscillation of the of itsnormalzero g5 scale .lever in the. vicinity position will n'ot light and extinguish'thecn.

lamp, and it likewise permits the adjustment of the lamp'. lighting to takej place properly timed in connection with the initial adjustment of the scale lever to set the scale lever 'at its zero position before the scalek is put in' use for weighing,

Of course other swltch lmeans could be utilized yin various forms for automatically controllin the electric circuit by meansof e5 the scale ever, orany one of the various movable elements' of the scale other than the scale lever 12 could be utilized to automat icallyl control vthe illumination of the ill'umi natin apparatus, 'allot which various forms 10c- 4vvoul come within the scope of the present invention. Y It is an advantage 'in the present struction'to have `the switch or conta f'deLj vice interfere as little as possible with the scale elementsi-n order not' to aectthe' scale in its weighin operation. This particular` contact device has the advantage Lthat it is in connection with the m'ovable scale elements nly for a short time, and for the greater 11e part of the movement of the scale it is dis-` 1 connected therefrom'. The movable contact strip normallytends" to make connection with its opposite contact" independently of the scale lever 12 so 'that the scale lever does 115,

Y' As above stated, the upper barrel of the *F scale comprises the casing 18 Within which is the revolving cylindrical chart 1-7 carryingthe computation 'figures closedby fthebulging end-pieces 50' and 5l," within which are mounted'respectivelyftheelectric lamps 33 and34. the lamps is important because.itisjdesirable to have the light therefrom'shinednteriorly 130.

ing position,

This cylinder 'is 1215 This location 'of .f

- lwith apertures 52 (seeFigs. l' and'2) to per-` 420A withinv the 'cylinder for cool-' within the computing chart'V .cylinder-1 t8 illuminate the ytransparcntchart at the read.;

atV the same\time' it is imi portant to have the lamp so located as'to permit free 'movement of the revolving cylinder, and likewise be in such aposition that it will not atl'ect theV operation' of the undue radiation 'of heat by the operating parts. This .locationlofthe 'lamps in this particular manner within the aboveing openings; and

described end-pieces. oi the cylinder accom- .,results, and has the advantages, Of coursel asingle lamp may. be4 Aused in one of tlieend-pieces, or both vendplishes the set forth.

hart

cup-shaped receptacle4 54 within 'whichto` mount the electric lamp, the receptacle-54 be in'g of metal or other 'suitable material and .cemented to lthe glass or'attached in any other desired manner.

In computing ,scales of this sortit is not only diliicult to read the'gures upon the computing light, but it is also dithcult to read the ,g-

ures indicating the vprice per unit weight,

these latter figures being used in connection with the computations on the chart in awell known manner. I have therefore provided an auxiliary chart 60 adjacent to the computing chart and having perforated figures (31 representing the price per ound, so that with this arrangement the il uinination of the lamp not` onlyserves to light 'np the transparent computing 'chart,' but it also shines throughthef-:eperforated figures on the auxiliary. chart and clearly shows to', the operator-the iigureslrepresenting the 4price perpound. It will be understood that this price per 'pound chart lies along the front'of one of the reading openings a jacentff to the computing chart 17and it may held in place byan overlying vstrip 62.

Having thus described my invention in the lspecific form of mechanism whichij have found' suitable,.it is nevertheless tofblunder# stood that the particularform described `is `only a preferre form of embodiment of the invention and' variousothe'forms might be claims which follow.

Any form of illuminating means might be used other than electric lamps, andaiitoxnatic 'control of the illumination Vmay, as above scale by the ,lamp4 to the' fiert'ures I uectric lamps mounted on -the inner side of.

the .mat y l the, end-pieces whereby to castthe light in-- excess.' of heat radiating.

ted in the end-piece 'ad'intervenino' beand 6 another form ofglass'.

chart in the absence of a good.

be suitably f' in said chamber .whereby to cast the light used, all coming within the .scope of the ousparts ofthe scale; and. vafrious'other "kinds off switch l` or? contact-making. devices. may .be used 4in connection 'viritrli'izhis control.

of.theilluininatiomi 1 Ai lVhatiis '1"imedisAas-followsz-f v lLf'n an'illuminating device for computr' inoj elements ofthe scale,l of. a transparent cylinflr'cal lcomputing chart-'actuated .by said weighing elements; an inclosing case l,for s"ai l 'cha1t having a reading opening;

'said end pieces being formed with eylinder,

to permit access'of air for cooling;

'teriorly within the cylinder while permitting` freemovemenl;L ofthe chart ,and its operat#` ing-mechanism unliindered yby contact with or heat from the'lai'np; a glasspartition for the lamp mounted in the end'- iece and terveningbetweenjthe lamp an the interior of g the cylinder; and an lighting the v lampv the .1'- transparent- 2. In-{an illuminating device for' Comput- \ing V scales; parent. eomputingchart having computing indicia thereony 'and -weighing 'elements' of a scale to show computed' values, an auxiliary chart adjacent said computing chart and formed with perforated ligures indicatingl price' per` unit weight; an' illuminating lamp located back of said computing chart and said auxiliary chart at' the reading cause it 'to..shine ythrough said' transparent computing chart -and through the perforated. Hgures on said adjacent auxiliary chart.- -3. In' an .illuminating 'dev-ice for computing scales, the combination with the weighf .ing elements of the scale, of a transparent computation chart, and connections to 'said weighing yelements. coperating with sai alhollo'W casing 'inclosing said chart, but cnstrueted' to qex'po' the reading Surface lthereof` to View; a bulging 'endfpieee for (said casin forn'iin .an enlarged end cham-A ber there or; an e ectrie lamp'mounted on A"the inner .side 01E the bulging end piece withinterigrly withinjthe chart while permit tingigwiree'v movement of the scale parts; a transparentwall intervening between said end chamber for heat?. protect-ion; and an electriccircuit for lighting the lamp to cause illumination of the transparent chart' at its reading ortion.

4. In .an illuminating device for computing scales.' the combination with a computation chart supported vinthe framework of..

coperating with the Stated, belfefl'ectedtroni any?crier-of:theivarif4 ing scales, the'combination. with-thew-'eighend pieces Afor inclosing 'the ends of said electric circuit for tocause illumination of 'the combinationA .with atranschart; andmean's for lighting'said lamp to "chant for ,indicatingthecomputatihn values;

iis

andthe interior of said chartV therefor;- :ul

scale loyer `having' connectlons cooperating..

-thewzrmohinean illuminatig electric lam'p' (l 'n Circuit' for said lamp; of a with 'said chart to' determine the computed y values, the-outer extremitvof said lever be.

ing extended longitudinally to form a'provjeeting pin4 extendin beyond4 the' point o f iattachment'v of said .4 e

into proximity to the framework 'of the 'ma- 1'0 chinegzand a swtch`for said-lamp circuit mounted ori. said,framework` at:` theuoiiter ver connections and endof .sidT-lever sind iii juxtaposition to' the" said, pin and comprising a,4 stationary contact terminal and a movable'V contact terff.

minal; the latter extendin across the path stantially asand for the purpose described.

YWitnesses:

` 'JOHN GEORGE SCHAUER', f-

JOSEPH. Somem'sl.A

'of travel of said pin and l thereby When. the scale 'lever is in normal position, .sub-

CHARLES BENJIM'AN LoNeis'rlol'rll.l l v 

